The GitHub Podcast

Frank “Frenck” Nijhof, project lead for Home Assistant and a GitHub Star, discusses the rise of privacy-first smart homes. He highlights how Home Assistant runs automations locally, avoiding cloud reliance. Frenck reveals unique automations from the community, like using sensors for couch weight and home breweries. He explains the mission of the Open Home Foundation to promote sustainability and prevent vendor lock-in. Additionally, he shares insights on the new Assist voice assistant and how non-coders can contribute to this welcoming open source project.

Join Jeff Luszcz, data lead for GitHub's Octoverse report, as he dives into the rise of TypeScript over Python, driven by strong tooling and AI's influence. Discover how AI is transforming coding through vibe coding and scaffolding, alongside the surge of 180M developers on GitHub—over one new developer every second! Jeff discusses the unexpected comeback of COBOL and the staggering 1.12 billion open source contributions, highlighting the global growth of developers in India, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Felix Reda, Director of Developer Policy at GitHub and open source funding advocate, joins Christian Grobmeier, a seasoned Apache Log4J maintainer, to dissect the significant fallout from the Log4Shell vulnerability. They detail how this incident reshaped government views on open source and spurred the creation of Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund. The duo discusses the surprising dynamics of project funding, the importance of community health for sustainability, and the lessons learned about diverse funding models that could shape future policies.

Mike McQuaid, the project lead of Homebrew with over 16 years of experience, shares his insights on maintaining one of the most essential developer tools. He discusses how to effectively scale contributions through automation and governance while keeping a small team motivated. Mike emphasizes the importance of soft power in leadership, setting boundaries, and saying no to prevent burnout. He also delves into the evolving support for open source from GitHub and the responsible use of AI, highlighting the significance of clear documentation and face-to-face interactions.

Keeley Hammond, a longtime maintainer of Electron, discusses the transformative impact of the framework on cross-platform desktop app development. She shares her journey and highlights how Electron fosters a welcoming open source community. The conversation dives into governance practices, the balance between paid and volunteer maintainers, and innovative automation tools to manage contributor onboarding. Keeley also tackles the rising challenges posed by AI-generated spam and the importance of nurturing a vibrant contributor culture.

The hosts dive into the rising trend of DIY software tools, celebrating innovation in open-source projects. They discuss how AI is transforming custom software development, empowering anyone to create personalized solutions. Insights into simple tools that streamline workflows demonstrate how small projects can make a big difference. Personal anecdotes highlight the joy of creative problem-solving and the tangible benefits of developing unique applications for enhanced productivity.

Jason Lengstorf, a developer advocate and creator of CodeTV, discusses his journey in open source and the emphasis on making developer education fun. He dives into the evolution of JavaScript and the impact of AI tools on web development. The conversation highlights how open source fosters community and innovation, showcasing lesser-known projects like Zod and SQLite. Additionally, the team shares their favorite open source tools and the importance of accessibility and collaboration in learning for developers today.

Discover the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its game-changing role in connecting AI tools with open standards. Learn how it simplifies development, enhances transparency, and promotes collaboration in the open-source community. The hosts explore exciting projects that leverage MCP, showcasing innovative contributions. They delve into the architecture behind MCP, discussing its potential for improving productivity and flexibility in tool development. Plus, hear about real-world examples that highlight the transformative impact of open standards.

The hosts share their inspiring journeys into open source, highlighting the importance of community and collaboration. They discuss innovative projects like CSS Zero and explore exciting tools like Docs and AnimeJS. There’s a unique take on hosting hackathons in unconventional settings, promoting the idea that creativity thrives in chaos. They stress the need for diverse voices in tech to empower newcomers, promising an engaging future filled with open-source explorations.

Welcome to the GitHub podcast, a show dedicated to the topics, trends, stories and culture in and around the open source developer community on GitHub. Hosted by GitHub’s own Cassidy Williams, Abby Cabunoc Mayes, and Kedasha Kerr. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.